Shipping case opener



p 1951 H. TANCREDl ETAL 2,999,607

SHIPPING CASE OPENER Filed Aug. 11, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm. mm

m: om 0 9:

P 12 dwm mm m 0 m: N@ m on U m INVENTORS HENRY TANCREDI FREDERICK W KULICKE JR.

ATT RNEY Sept- 1961 H. TANCREDl ET A].

SHIPPING CASE OPENER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11, 1959 NQE mm mm mm mm on if; a

w mo mm mm INVENTORS TANCREDI FREDERICK W. KULICKE, JR. /j

HENRY ATTORNEY P 1961 H. TANCREDI ET AL SHIPPING CASE OPENER 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 11, 1959 INVENTORS HENRY TANCREDI FREDERICK W. KUL|CKE.,JR.

ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1961 H. TANCREDI ETAL 2,999,607

SHIPPING CASE OPENER Filed Aug. 11, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 4

INVENTORS HENRY TANCREDI FREDERICK W. KULICKE,JR.

ATTORNEY p 1961 H. TANCREDI ETAL SHIPPING CASE OPENER 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 11, 1959 TO LINE INVENTORS HENRY TANCREDI FREDERICK W. KULICKE,JR.

ATTORNEY S pt- 12, 1 6 H. TANCREDI ETAL SHIPPING CASE OPENER 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 11, 1959 INVENTORS TANCREDI FREDERICK W. KULICKE, JR.

HENRY ATIORNEY Sept. 12, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 11, 1959 R S J, E Y m M N D U w mum w mm 5 0K 0N0; Q0; mm A T C H Y E mw Ww E R H F Y mm B W (mm tas Our invention relates to a shipping case opener, and more particularly relates to a materials handling machine for automatically opening dual-flap, flanged-lid, closures on fibreboard shipping cartons, especially of the returnable or re-usable type commonly utilized in the beer industry.

It is customary for container manufacturers, in the canning and bottling industries, to deliver empty cans and/or bottles to packers in the same cases which the packers subsequently employ in shipping the products to the consumer. It is also both desirable and economical that such cases be returned from consumer sources to the packer for additional reshipping purposes. In both instances, these cases are received by the packer with the flaps thereof wedged closed, in precisely the same manner as would occur during product shipment, in order to conserve shipping space and to minimize damage otherwise predominantly occurring during ordinary transit.

Thus, it is easily seen that canners and bottlers are confronted with the problem of opening a vast number of shipping cases preparatory to the usual uncasing, cleansing, filling and repacking procedures encountered in the ordinary course of business. Re-opening the wedged case flaps by hand can be a time consuming and expensive operation, but prior attempts to open cases of the character mentioned above by machine has resulted in damage not only to the cases themselves but also to the bottle and can contents thereof.

It is therefore an object of our invention to construct a machine for automatically opening wedged flaps on shipping cases.

Another object of our invention is to provide an autornatic shipping case opener which will handle with minimum adjustment a large variety of case sizes and shapes.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic machine for opening shipping cases in high production quantities without causing damage to the cases or to the contents thereof.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic shipping case opener which, without jamming, will indiscriminately accommodate opened and partially opened cases as well as those which are fully closed, thereby keeping container damage and machine shutdown at a minimum.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic case opening machine which will positively and quickly fully open the flaps of both used and freshly fabricated cases in complete preparation for subsequent operations to be performed thereon.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine for automatically opening offset fiap constructions on cases without requiring orientation of the cases themselves.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine for automatically opening dual-flap, flanged-lid closures on shipping cases in either empty, filled or partially filled condition without subjecting the containers to damage or excessive wear.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic shipping case opener wherein minimum operator attention is required.

Another object of our invention is to provide an autote t matic shipping case opener wherein cases delivered thereto in production quantities are automatically synchronized with the opening mechanism without requiring separate infeed timing.

Other objects of our invention are to provide an improved device of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eflicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, our invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood fromthe following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an automatic case opening machine embodying our invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational View of the case opening machine as viewed from the other side.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of our case opening machine.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a kicker mechanism for releasing one case at a time in synchronized relationship with the flap lifting means.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a reciprocable carriage conveyor for elevating successive cases into engagement with the flap lifting means.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the carriage conveyor in elevated position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tripper gate embodied in our invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along lines 1010 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective View of a movable horn member embodied in our invention and the manner of articulation thereof.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the movable horn member showing the bendable construction thereof.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a typical shipping case whose flaps may be automatically opened by our invention.

FIG. 14 is an electrical schematic diagram of the triggering circuit embodied in our invention.

FIGS. 15, 16, 17 and 18 are side sectional views showing the sequence of flap opening operations and illustrating respectively: (1) the case as it is received upon the carriage conveyor and arrested by the gate, (2) the carriage conveyor in ascending position preparatory to discharging the case against a fixed horn, (3) the carriage conveyor in fully elevated position discharging the case into abutment with the fixed horn, and (4) the carriage conveyor in descending position with the case flaps being flared open above the fixed horn.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along lines 19-19 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along lines 20-20 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along lines 21-21 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along lines 22-22 of FIG. 18.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, we show an automatic case opening machine comprising a frame, generally designated as A, and conveyor means including a feeding section B, a vertically reciprocable carriage section C, and a terminal section D, all continuously urging shipping cases E forwardly along a longitudinal path of travel. Gate tripper means F responsive to the successive advancement of the cases E'from the feeding conveyor B into the carriage conveyor C arrests the forward progress of the cases at the terminus of the carriage conveyor and actuates the reciprocation thereof. Elevation of the carriage conveyor C to a level above the gate tripper F causes discharge of a case thereabove against a fixed fiap lifting horn G which abuts the leading wall of the discharged case immediately below the closed level of the flaps thereof. A movable horn H immediately engages the trailing wall of that case below the level of the flaps and maintains the said case against the fixed horn G. The carriage conveyor C, in completing its reciprocating cycle, now descends so that the two horns G and H cooperatively bear upwardly against the respective under edges of the case lid flanges and lift up the case flaps. The terminal conveyor D then draws the opened case past and below the fixed horn G flaring open the case flaps thereabove.

The cases E are of the typical form shown in FIG. 13 and comprise a rectangular body portion having opposed side walls 6 and opposed end walls 8 upwardly extending from a closed bottom 9. Lid flaps 10 with end flanges 11 are hinged to the upper edge of the side walls 6 so that the flanges overlie the upper portion of the end walls 8 when the case is closed. Suitable hand holes 11A are formed in the end walls 8- to enable convenient carrying of the case.

The cases E are delivered to the feeding conveyor B by hand or from a suitable line or conventional gravity conveyor so that the end walls 8 are disposed perpendicular to the line of travel, the flaps 19 being closed with the flanges 11 overhanging the end walls adjacent the upper edges thereof. The feeding conveyor B comprises a continuous belt 12 which forwardly urges the cases E in a longitudinal line from left to right, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, between guide rails 13 and 14 against a fixed stop 15. The horizontal portion of the belt 12 is supported upon a plurality of rollers 16 journaled in frame members 17 and 18, the belt being in a clockwise direction by pulley roller 19 as shown in FIG. 4. Tension on the belt 12 is suitably controlled by take-up roller 20 and adjusting rod 21 mounted upon the frame A. Vertical posts 22, 23, 24, and 25 support the feeding conveyor B above base 26.

Immediately below the guide rail 13 is a kicker I, which, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and. 5, is adapted to transversely shift successive cases E arrested by the stop out of engagement therewith and toward the recessed portion 27 of guide rail 14. After release from the stop 15, one case at a time may longitudinally advance upon intermediate conveyor rollers 36 and thereafter carried into the carriage conveyor C which will be in lowered receiving position preparatory to the performance of flap opening operations. As best shown in FIG. 5, the kicker J comprises an arm 29 pivotally supported upon hinge bracket 30, the free end of the arm having a pusher block 28 which nudges the side of that case abutting the stop 15 when cam 31 is actuated. Spring 32 is tensioned between arm 29 and the outboard edge of guide rail 13 to resiliently maintain cam follower 33 in contact with the face of cam 31. The kicker I is ordinarily in retracted position since the flat surface of cam 31 is normally presented to the cam follower 33, and the case E abutting the stop 15 is maintained in arrested position against the stop until the carriage conveyor C is vertically reciprocated. Upon each cycle of reciprocation of the carriage conveyor C, crank arm 35 oscillates rod 34 causing the lobe or face projection 31A on cam 31 to be rotated into engagement with cam follower 33 thereby effecting inward swinging of kicker I with consequent release of the case E abutting the stop 15.

A sensing finger 37 is pivotally mounted adjacent the stop 15, and the inboard end of the finger is resiliently urged by microswitch 38 to project immediately prior to the stop 15 so as to feel a case E bearing thereagainst. As shown in FIG. 14, the contacts of microswitch 38 are normally open and are in series with carriage tripping microswitch 39 whose contacts are also normally open and only close when a case E enters the carriage C and abuts against the gate F. Thus, both microswitches 38 and 39 must have their respective contacts closed in order to obtain a carriage reciprocation, i.e., a case E must abut the stop 15, and a second case must abut the gate F. Such a circuit normally leaves one case remaining in the carriage C as an automatic priming provision whereupon a fresh case abutting the stop 15 will enable the case remaining in said carriage to actuate the reciprocation thereof. Since interruptions occur intermittently in the infeed flow of cases to the conveyorB, the series switching arrangement set forth enables automatic flap opening operations to occur without the need of separate operator control. If it is desired to completely clear the carriage C, shunt switch S conveniently located on the frame A may be hand closed by the machine operator when the infeed line has become depleted, as for example at the end of a days run. Similarly, the shunt switch S must be closed to prime the carriage C at the beginning of a run if for some reason the carriage conveyor contains no case.

The rollers 36 act as an intermediate conveyor and lead each case kicked free of the stop 15 from the conveyor belt 12 to the carriage conveyor C. The conveyor rollers 36 are freely journaled within the frame members 17 and 18 and are driven in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 4 by an endless belt 40 frictionally engaging the lower surfaces thereof. The belt 44) is driven counterclockwise over bed rollers 41 by pulley roller 42. Suitable idler rollers 43 and 44 together with take-up roller 45 maintain the desired tension upon the belt 40. Since the upper or conveying surface of each roller 36 is smooth, a case E may be pulled back thereover by hand without stopping the conveyor drive system should a jammed condition occur at the carriage C or immediately prior thereto. The lineal speed of the rollers 36 is such as not to over-ride carriage drive roller 60, but permits suflicient time to elapse between release of each case from the stop 15 so that the released case will arrive at the carriage conveyor in the fully descended position thereof.

Each of the cases E advanced by the rollers 36 pass below a fan 46 downwardly projecting from a cross beam 47 supported between posts 24 and 25. The fan 46 acts to depress the flaps of any cases which might be open or partially open prior to the entry of the cases into the carriage conveyor C. A guide extension 48 laterally positions the cases E advanced by the rollers 36 against the recessed portion 27 of guide rail 14.

The carriage conveyor C is vertically reciprocable along an arc of large radius of curvature and includes a pair of side plates 49 and 50 laterally spaced and integrally joined by tie rods 51 and 52. Support plates 53 and 54 affixed to the tie rods are respectively secured to trunnions 55 and 56 pivotally journaled within the vertical posts 24 and 25. It should be here noted that crank arm 35 is aflixed to the outboard end of trunnion 55 and is hingedly movable therewith so as to oscillate rod 34 with each reciprocation of the carriage conveyor thereby actuating the kicker I through cam 31. Spring support members 57 and 58 depending from posts 24 and 25 trapezoidally suspend and resiliently counterbalance the weight of the entire carriage conveyor so that it may be easily reciprocated by the vertical oscillation of crank arm 69.

A rubber covered drive roller 60 journaled within the side plates 49 and 50 longitudinally urges the cases E across idler rollers 61 and into abutment with the gate F. The roller 60 is driven by a sprocket 62 coupled to pulley sprocket 63 through chain 64. Shaft 65A, rotatably supported within plates 49 and 50 and driven by sprocket 65 secured to one end thereof, is coupled at J the other end to pulley sprocket 63 through a slip clutch 66 concentrically mounted within the pulley hub. The

clutch 66 may be any conventional clutch slipping device well known in the art wherein rotational motion will be frictionally transmitted from a driving member to a driven member but enable the driven member to slip when the load thereon exceeds a predetermined value. In the present invention, the drive roller 60 continuously urges the cases E forwardly and drives them individually against the gate F when the carriage C is in lowered position. However, the weight of a case arrested by the gate F will bear downwardly upon the roller 60 and cause the clutch 66 to slip thereby interrupting relative rotational motion of the roller 60 against the bottom of that case without eliminating the propensity of the drive roller to urge the arrested case forwardly. When the carriage C is in elevated position, the case therein is pushed by the drive roller 60 over and above the gate F into engagement with the fixed horn G which abuts against the leading wall 8 immediately under the closed level of the flanges 11. Here again, the slip clutch 66 precludes excessive reaction force from being applied against the leading wall 8 of the case discharged against the horn G thereby reducing the likelihood of impalement, collapse or other damage to the leading case wall. As will be seen hereinafter, a similar yielding force is applied by the movable horn H against the trailing wall of the case being discharged from the carriage.

Spaced wing guides 67 and 68 laterally position the cases E within the carriage conveyor C during their interrupted trnasportation therethrough, said guides being adjustable both laterally and vertically to accommodate cases of different sizes. Upwardly converging flanges 67A and 68A on the wing guides both limit the outward divergence of the flaps and downwardly depress the cases being discharged to insure proper and eflicient flap lifting when the carriage descends. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the flanges 67A and 68A bear downwardly upon the upper surface of the flaps during descent of the carriage C and preclude hanging up of the case which is engaged between the fixed horn G and the movable horn H. Thus, high speed and positive flap opening is insured since the opening system of our invention does not rely on the force exercised by the weight of the case itself. The downward force exercised by the flanges 67A and 68A upon the lids of the cases is particularly important in the handling of new cases having stiff flaps or during opening operations of partially filled or completely empty cartons.

Vertical reciprocation of the carriage conveyor C is eflected by the crank arm 69 which is coupled to eccentric 79, the latter being rotated by the output of intermittent drive unit 72 functioning as a single revolution clutch. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 15, the carriage C is normally in lowered position wherein successive cases B may be received therein and individually impelled by roller 60 against the gate F. The gate F not only arrests the cases abutting thereagainst when the carriage is in lowered position, but also triggers the vertical reciprocation of the carriage to permit discharge of the previously arrested case above the gate and into registration with the fixed horn G and the movable horn H when the carriage is elevated. 7

As shown in FIG. 9, the gate F comprises a pair of L-shaped legs 74 and 75 interconnected by a transverse stop plate 76A and roller 76 at the toe portion thereof and by a strut 77 at the heel. Gate suspending members 78 and 79 pivotally depend from bearings 82 and 83 which are mounted on terminal conveyor supports 80 and 81. The intermediate portion of the legs 74 and 75 are hingedly secured at 84 and 85 to the lower portion of the suspending members 78 and 79. A spring 86 is connected at one end to the heel of gate F and is anchored in tension to the support 81 at a position below and before the heel strut 77 thereby biasing the gate both clockwise and to the left as shown in FIG. 9. The clockwise bias ofthe gate F is limited by a reaction assembly K to a position it; where the stop plate 76A and the toe roller '76 project above the terminal conveyor D adjacent the discharge end of the carriage conveyor C. Longitudinal movement 'of' the gate F is limited by snubbers 87 and 88 which interiorly project from terminal conveyor support 81 and straddle ear 89 downwardly extending from leg 75. An actuating finger 90 outwardly projects from ear 89 and is adapted to engage wand 91 which is in articulation with carriage tripper microswitch 39. The ear 89 is biased by the spring 86 against the snubber 87 so that the gate F is normally in cocked position preparatory to being tripped by an advancing case. When each successive case enters the carriage conveyor C and is urged into abutment with the stop plate 76A of the gate F, the gate moves longitudinally in opposition to the spring bias until ear 89 engages snubber 88. The rearward movement of the gate F will cause finger 90 to hit against wand 91 thereby closing the contacts of microswitch 39 and actuating a single full reciprocating cycle of the carriage C, provided of course that the contacts of microswitch 38 are also closed.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 9, and 10, the reaction assembly K comprises a rod 93 having a slotted shoulder 94 afiixed to the upper portion thereof. A bored weighted base 95 freely rests upon the shoulder 94 and supports a plurality of axially aligned weighted disks 95A. The lowermost disk 95A is separated from the base 95 by a rubber cushion or buffer 95B, and an apertured dome 95C encloses the weighted disks and peripherally rests upon the buifer. The weight of the reaction assembly K is supported upon a transverse canopy beam 179 which is secured to longitudinally extending canopy members 180 and 181, the corresponding ends thereof being secured to the top of vertical posts 24, 25, 106 and 107 and tied trans- Versely by lateral canopymembers and 172. The transverse canopy beam 179 is apertured to pass the rod 93 therethrough. Aligned pins 182 and 183 are welded to the beam 179 across the aperture therein and are axially spaced so as to engage within the slots of the shoulder 94. The lower portion of the rod 93 has an adjusting stud 93A threaded therein. The bottom of stud 93 is slidably received within a sleeve 92 which is pivotally secured by eyelet 92A to the side of gate F adjacent the toe portion of leg 75. The blind bottom of the sleeve 92 acts as a stop for controlling the arresting position of the gate F by limiting the clockwise rotation thereof against the opposing bias of spring 86. In addition, the reaction assembly K serves to absorb and damp out vertical oscillations of the gate F when a case B discharged from the carriage C has pivoted the gate counterclockwise and passed over toe roller 76 whereby the spring 86 will rapidly return the gate F toarresting position again. The bounce normally prevalent with the spring urged return of the gate F against the bottom of rod 93A is absorbed by transfer of this energy to the momentum absorbing weights 95 and 95A.

As has been previously indicated, the gate F moves heelwardly in response to successive cases E abutting thereagainst to trigger microswitch 39 which actuates the intermittent drive unit 72 for a single, non-repeat revolution and reciprocates the carriage conveyor C from a lowered receiving position (FIG. 15) to an elevated position from which the cases are discharged above the gate F (FIGS. 16 and 17), and thence to a lowered position again (FIG. 18). Each case being discharged from the carriage C will bear downwardly upon the roller 76 as the carriage descends and cause the gate to pivot counterclockwise against the tension of spring 86. After each case has passed and rolled over the toe roller 76, the gate will be sprung clockwise into case arresting position once more, and the blind of the sleeve will abut against the bottom of rod 93 whereby the shock of the upward pivotal movement of the gate will be damped by the reaction assembly momentum absorbing weights.

The single revolution clutch is well known in the art and for purposes of brevity is merely shown symbolically by the reference character 72. For more explicit details of intermittent clutch drive units of this type, reference may be had to US. Patent No. 2,140,737 and to Bulletin No. 239, revised January 1954, published by the Hilliard Corporation of Elmira, New York, and to Hilliard Corporation Bulletin No. I.D.U. 2C.P.-SM, dated May 1959.

Continuous rotary motion from a sprocket 96 is imparted to the input of the clutch 72, the output 71 thereof being normally disengaged and stationary until the contacts of microswitch 39 are closed. As shown in FIG. 14, closing of the contacts of both microswitch 38 and microswitch 39 will energize clutch solenoid 72A which will effect engagement of the clutch output 71 for a single, non-repeat revolution. Crank 70 mounted on output shaft 71 correspondingly reciprocates the carriage conveyor through a single vertical cycle for each case abutting gate F, so that said case will be elevated into registration with the fixed horn G and be discharged above the gate against said horn.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the movable horn H is likewise actuated with the engagement of the clutch 72 by way of cardiod cam 97 mounted upon output shaft 71. Cam follower 98 afiixed to shaft 99' journaled in the frame A imparts a rocking motion to rocker arm 100 with the rotation of cam 97 through its cycle. As shown in FIG. 11, a chain 101 secured to the upper end of rocker am 100 and tensioned to the member 105 adjacent post 107 moves counterclockwise as the carriage C is elevated and then clockwise during descent thereof. The movable horn H is affixed to shaft 103 journaled in members 104A and 105A which are slidably adjustable longitudinally within respective channel beams 104 and 105 and afiixed in the desired position by bolts 160. The channel beams 104 and 105 are affixed to the frame vertical posts 24, 25, 106 and 107. Longitudinal positioning of the members 104A and 105A within the channel beams governs the relative engaging location of the movable horn H with respect to the case being discharged from the carriage against the fixed horn G. As will be evident, the movable horn H helps to maintain the fixed horn G in abutment with the case B by cooperating with the drive roller *60, and engages the trailing Wall of that case immediately below the level of the lip flanges 11. Chain 101 engages sprocket 108 secured to one end of shaft 103 and is guided about the sprocket by idler sprockets 109 and 110 rotatably supported in member 105A, the lower portion of the chain being engaged by idler sprocket 111 which is journaled in vertical post 107. The force that horn H exerts against the case E being discharged against the fixed horn G is governed by the tension of spring 102 which alone pulls the movable horn H clockwise, as shown in FIG. 11, when cam 97 is rotated to so permit. The tension of spring 102 will thus urge the horn H against the rear of the case being discharged and maintain the leading edge of that case in contact with the fixed horn G. By varying the position of chain 101 with respect to the teeth of sprocket 108, the tension of spring 102 may be accordingly adjusted so as the opposed forces of the two horns will not collapse the end walls 8 of the case engaged therebetween.

The movable horn H includes an L-shaped bendable knee member 112 having a flap lifting shoe 113 at one end, the medial portion of member 112 being pivotally secured to a bracket 114 which is clamped to shaft 103. A coil spring 115 resiliently maintains lug 112A in contact with the bracket 114. See FIG. 12. The forward arc of horn H is adjusted as previously set forth so that the shoe 113 will engage under the flanges 11 of the trailing wall of that case whose front wall is abutting the fixed horn G. If perchance, a case E is trapped or jammed in the carriage C in a position under the movable hornH, the bendable construction thereof will enable the knee 112 to yield as the cam 97 rotatably returns the horn H clockwise to starting position without 8 tearing the temporarily trapped case or causing damage to the contents thereof. In addition, the bendable knee construction will enable automatic self clearing of a temporary jammed condition without stopping the machine.

The fixed horn G comprises a longitudinally extending member medially suspended from the beams 104 and so as to engage the leading wall of the cases being discharged from the elevated carriage C immediately below the closed level of the lip flanges 11. The fixed horn includes a prow or shoe 117 projecting from the distal end of bar 118 which is secured to the bottom of bracket 119. A pair of diverging rods 120 extend backwardly and slope upwardly from the prow 117 and engage the nether surfaces of the flaps 10 so as to flare the flaps open as the cases are advanced by the terminal conveyor D past and below the fixed horn. The bracket 119 depends from the bottom of plate 124 which is pivotally supported upon the beams 104 and 105. The tail portion of plate 124 has a trunnion member 124B rotatably supported in pillow blocks 122 Whereas the forward portion of the plate has outwardly extending pads 124A which rest upon the beams 104 and 105. Thus, although the fixed horn is suspended horizontally, it will pivot upwardly about hinged axis 122122 to self relieve jamming conditions occurring under and below the prow 117. In addition, the entire horn G may be lifted manually by handle 123 to relieve frontal type jamming conditions which may occur immediately forward of the fixed horn. It should be noted that the width of the shoes of the fixed horn and the rear movable horn, 117 and 113 respectively, is such as to cover variations in the centerline of flap closures, i.e., the horns will engage and open symmetrical as well as off-center flap constructions. In addition, the bearing area of the shoes 113 and 117 is sufficient so as not to pierce the end walls of the cases being opened nor to enter Within the hand holes 11A thereof. The opening action results from the downward thrust of the flanges 67A and 68A upon the top of the cases whereby the prow 117 of the fixed horn G catches upon the under edge of the flap lips 11 and lifts the flaps 10 as the carriage descends. The movable horn H acts as a helper and insures lifting action where the leading edge flap lips 11 are missing or possibly closed interiorly of the leading end wall 8. The movable horn H also enables efiicient opening action on very long cases or where the flaps have become quite flexible since on such cases the fixed horn G could not exercise by itself a vertical upward thrust sutficient to act upon the trailing edge of the flaps 10.

The terminal conveyor D comprises an endless belt 126 having a high friction surface so as to carry oif the opened cases past and below the fixed horn G. The belt 126 is driven by pulley roller 127 over bed rollers 128 journaled in the conveyor supports 80 and 81. Take-up roller 129 controls the belt tension by adjustment of rod 130. Laterally spaced guide rails 131 and 132 are laterally adjustable within the frame A to properly channel the cases longitudinally advanced by the conveyor D along a medial path below the fixed horn G.

A single motor drive unit 135 actuates all of the mechanical motions and operations. A belt 136 driven by motor drive unit 135 extends about sheave 137 journaled at the rear of the frame A. Pulley 138 rotatable with sheave 137 drives sheave 139 at a reduced speed through belt 140. A sprocket 141 rotatable with sheave 139 drives chain 142 about sprocket 96 to impart continuous rotary motion to the input of the intermittent drive unit 72. Sprocket 144 coupled to sheave 139 through jack shaft 143 drives chain 145 about sprocket 146 on the opposite side of the frame A. Sprocket 146 rotates shaft 147 journaled within the vertical posts 24 and 25 to turn pulley roller 42 and drive the intermediate rollers 36 of feeding conveyor B. A chain 148 transmits rotary motion from jack shaft 147 to the carriage drive sprocket 65 thereby turning drive roller 60 through slip clutch 66 in the manner heretofore described. The jack shaft 147 also rotates pulley 19 of the feeding conveyor B through sprocket 150 coupled to sprocket 151 by chain 152.

The lineal speed of conveyor D is greater than that of driver roller 60 in the carriage conveyor C so as to pull the opened cases E rapidly and positively over the gate F and past the horn G in order to allow the gate to spring back into arresting position once more in time to arrest the next succeeding case released from the stop 15. The speed of the intermediate rollers 36 is such as not to override the drive roller 60, but to close the gap between the case entering the carriage conveyor C and the case leaving the carriage conveyor. Since the rollers 36 are smooth, they will slip under the cases in the event a jam occurs in the carriage conveyor. Furthermore, when it is desired to clear such a jam, the operator merely moves the case back over the rollers 36 without stopping the machine.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, each case B abutting the stop 15 in the feeding conveyor B is successively released therefrom as the kicker J is actuated by the reciprocation of the carriage conveyor C, the next preceding case having tripped the gate F such as to have actuated the intermittent drive unit 72 for a single revolution. The series arrangement of the microswitches 38 and -39 maintains a full machine at all times, thereby permitting a carriage reciprocation only when at least one case is abutting against sensing finger 37 at the stop 15. Thus, each case in the carriage conveyor C will actuate the reciprocation thereof automatically as soon as cases are delivered to the feeding conveyor B and are transported by belt 12 against the stop 15. Each case released from the stop 15 is carried by intermediate rollers 36 into the carriage conveyor C whereupon the drive roller 60 will advance the said case against the gate F. When the carriage C has been elevated to a position above the gate toe roller 76, the case in the carriage will be advanced against the fixed horn G by the drive roller 60 so that the fixed horn engages the leading wall 8 immediately below the level of the flanges 11. The movable horn H will now have been urged into a position against the trailing wall 8 immediately below the level of the trailing flanges 11 thereof and maintain the case against the fixed horn G. As the carriage descends, the wing flanges 67A and 68A will bear downwardly upon the case flaps 11) whereby a vertical thrust upward will be exerted by the horn G and the horn H against the under edges of the end flanges 11 and lift the case flaps 10. When the leading wall of the case has cleared below the fixed horn G with further descent of the carriage conveyor C, the drive roller 60 and the movable horn H will push the case toward the terminal conveyor D, the bottom of the case now pivoting the gate F downwardly. See FIGS. 15 to 22. When the carriage has fully descended, the terminal conveyor D will draw the discharged case below and past the fixed horn G and flare open the flaps thereabove.

Although our invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

We claim as our invention:

1. A machine for automatically opening flaps on shipping cases comprising in combination, a frame, a carriage vertically reciprocable in said frame, conveyor means forwardly urging the cases in a longitudinal path of travel through said carriage, a gate arresting the forward progress of the cases when said carriage is in lowered position, tripper means responsive to the advancement of each case against said gate reciprocating said carriage to successively discharge one case in the elevated position thereof, a horn medially disposed in the path of travel of the elevated cases discharged from said carriage, said horn ini- 10 tially engaging the upper leading edge of each successively discharged case immediately below the closed level of the flaps thereof and thereafter flaring open the flaps as the carriage descends, and a terminal conveyor advancing the opened cases longitudinally past and below said horn.

2. The invention of claim 1 including cooperative lifting means directed against the rear of each advancing case as it is discharged against said horn whereby counterimposed forces will simultaneously bear against the respective forward and rearward edges of the case flaps to secure positive and uniform lifting thereof.

3. The invention of claim 1 including guide means forcibly urging each case downwardly during discharge thereof against said horn to preclude the cases from hanging up upon said horn when the carriage descends.

4. A machine for automatically opening flaps on shipping cases comprising a frame, a conveyor forwardly urging the cases along a longitudinal path of travel therethrough, means responsive to the successive advancement of the cases cyclically reciprocating a portion of said conveyor above the longitudinal line of travel, and a horn medially disposed in said frame positioned above the normal path of travel of the cases but successively engaging and flaring open the flaps of the advancing case as the reciprocating portion of the conveyor is respectively first elevated and then lowered.

5. A machine for automatically opening flaps on shipping cases comprising a conveyor forwardly urging the cases along a longitudinal path of travel, flap lifting means disposed above said conveyor for engaging the successively advancing cases immediately below the level of the flaps thereof, and means responsive to the successive advancement of the cases vertically reciprocating a portion of said conveyor to urge one case at a time first into and then out of operative engagement with said lifting means whereby the flaps will be forcibly flared open without damage to the cases or to the contents thereof.

6. A machine for automatically opening flaps on shipping cases comprising a conveyor forwardly urging the cases along a longitudinal path of travel, a fixed horn medially disposed above the path of travel of the advancing cases, and means responsive to the respective advancement thereof successively elevating the cases to a position where said horn engages the upper leading edge thereof immediately below the closed level of the flaps and thence retracting the successively elevated cases to a position where the forward progress thereof is not impeded by said horn thereby enabling the flaps to be opened without damage to the cases or to the contents thereof.

7. A machine for automatically opening flaps on shipping cases comprising a frame, a carriage vertically reciprocable in said frame between an initial lower receiving position and an elevated discharging position, conveyor means in said carriage forwardly urging the cases therethrough, means responsive to the forward advancement of the cases within said carriage actuating the reciprocation thereof and causing the discharge of one case at a time therefrom only at the elevated portion of the carriage stroke, a fixed horn interposed to initially engage the upper leading edge of successively discharged cases immediately below the closed level of the flaps thereof, a swinging arm pivoted within said frame and having at the free end thereof a shoe moving in an arcuate path directed against the upper trailing edge immediately below the closed level of the flaps of the cases being successively discharged against said horn whereby the flaps will be flared upon as the carriage descends, and conveyor means advancing the opened cases past and below said horn.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said swinging arm comprises two sections joined to each other by a bendable knee resiliently yielding to cases jammed within said carriage.

9. The invention of claim 7 including laterally spaced guide means within said carriage urging successive cases therein downwardly during the descending stroke thereby preventing the cases being discharged against said horn from hanging up thereon.

reciprocable carriage conveyor, and a terminal conveyor, means responsive to the advancement of cases within said carriage conveyor vertically reciprocating said carriage conveyor from a receiving position to a discharging position and then back to receiving position, a horn disposed in the path of travel of cases discharged from said carriage conveyor initially engaging the leading edge or the discharged cases immediately below the closed level of flaps thereon, and flaring open the flaps as the carriage descends whereby said terminal conveyor will carry the opened cases past and below said horn.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said means comprises a triggering gate positioned intermediate said reciprocable conveyor and said terminal conveyor, said gate normally obstructing the advancement of said cases but being successively actuated thereby to reciprocate said carriage conveyor so as to permit only'one case at a time to be discharged against said horn,

12. The invention of claim 10 wherein said reciprocable conveyor is pivotally suspended.

13. A case opening machine comprising a conveyor for longitudinally advancing cases along a horizontal path of travel, flap lifting means associated with said conveyor normally disposed above the line of case travel, vertically reciprocable means in said conveyor for elevating the cases successively into registration with said flap lifting means, a gate resiliently biased in a position normally obstructing the advancement of said cases but being itself responsive to successive abutment of the cases thereagainst so as to actuate said vertically reciprocable means through a single cycle of reciprocation, and means suspending said gate so as to permit successively opened cases to pass thereby and thereafter to arrest the next preceding case in line.

14. In a machine for automatically opening flaps on shipping cases, a conveyor comprising a delivery section, a vertically reciprocable carriage section, and a terminal section, a gate intermediate said carriage and said terminal sections arresting the forward progress of said cases and responsive to the abutment of successive cases thereagainst actuating said carriage section through a single cycle of reciprocation, and flap lifting means interposed above said terminal section engaging successive cases immediately below the closed level of the flaps thereof as said cases are discharged from said carriage section past said gate.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said gate is pivotally suspended so as to permit both longitudinal and arcuate movement with respect to said conveyor, and resilient means normally biasing said gate into a non-actuating position obstructing the advancement of said cases Whereby only one case at a time will be discharged from said carriage section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,656,060 Fischer et al Oct. 20, 1953 2,761,263 Bruce Sept. 4, 1956 2,831,305 Earls et al Apr. 22, 1958 2,918,773 Krupp et a1 Dec. 29, 1959 

